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turning back now to our lead story, the democratic national convention, and the parade of

big names set to speak there in front of the cameras. behind the scenes there is also big names, mega donors, names you don't often hear. >> you had. they have raised millions for president obama. for some that has been a gateway for perks, favors, jobs. here is abc's brian ross, once again on the money trail. >> reporter: just like the republicans, the democrats in charlotte are treating big money people like political royalty. >> they're the convention delegates and then the elite. >> reporter: this confidential campaign document lays out the perks for super donors. top package for those who raised more than $1 million. with access to places most delegates will never see, including this invitation-only concert by pop singer john legend. >> the top rung players. basically most delegates to the conventions and most american people are left out of this loop. >> reporter: in addition to the perks there are jobs for the

biggest obama fundraisers. from our money trail files from the 2008 convention, we found allen katz named ambassador to portugal after raising $500,000 plus. and another big obama fund raiser four years ago. how much money did you raise? >> i can't disclose that. >> between $200,000 and $500,000 was later appointed assistant secretary of congress. steve spinner raised more than $500,000. his reward at the department of energy where he pushed for the controversial $535 million federal loan to the now-bankrupt solyndra company, a loan never repaid. when we found spinner honored among big donors this year in charlotte he went out a side door. democratic partied officials blocked our camera crew from following.

yet another $500,000 fundraiser here this week, chicago stockbroker, raj fernando, named to the board, resigned after abc news asked about his qualifications to be on the board. it was not something fernando wanted to talk about this week. >> who are you? >> with abc news. >> reporter: we were ordered to stop asking questions of fernando, leave the hotel or face arrest. >> leave the property or you will be arrested. >> reporter: i will be arrested for asking questions? the democrats like to say they're different than the republicans more than anyone, but their money, use -- in fact, democrats like republicans continue to keep secret the name of some of the biggest donors to advocacy groups. the head of a superfund told me operate just look karl rove and plans to continue to. brian ross, abc news, charlotte. >> we have seen this story twice now. so we can talk all day long about the divisions in our politics, democrat, republican, liberal, conservative, blue state, red state, the biggest divide that should concern all is the divide between the haves

and have nots and special interests versus everyday folks and unbelievable influence, influence that money has on the democracy. it has today, a long time, and will for a while. all be concerned. >> moving on. >> be concerned. this edition of "world news now" inbox. and a trip today down memory lane. >> yes, we are opening up our personal archives to answer some fun questions. you are watching "world news now." >> announcer: abc's "world news now" will continue after this from our abc stations.

it is wednesday morning. that means time for "world news now" inbox. we answer the questions that you

have asked. >> indeed. let's get to it. mattie wanted to know what was your first broadcasting job? i am relatively new to tv, my fifth year doing tv. i started in new orleans, cbs affiliate, wwl, number one station in new orleans. first day on the job was 7/7/07, they let me anchor the news show. the only one. unbelievably nervous. and the broadcast just went to cable. let's see what you got. i was a newspaper guy for years. that saturday noon came, this is how it went down. >> good saturday afternoon, everyone. it is 7/7/07, i am rob nelson in for lea. we'll get to the stories. first let's check in with dawn brown and a quick look at the forecast. hey, dawn, people think today is lucky. are we going to get lucky with the weather? >> awful, god awful. >> great transition. >> i didn't know where to look. blinking too much. shifting eyes side to side.

never been more nervous on the saturday afternoon. that was the first day. >> diane sawyer? >> that was the first day in broadcasting. back in '07. what a long road. >> look almost a little younger but almost exactly the same. >> 15 pounds lighter. voice is different. everything is different. i have lost weight since i moved here. what about you? >> i actually started in tv behind the scenes in products, eight years. i have pictures. i started training for the '96 olympics, at the georgia state games. >> training to -- broadcast. trained with the atlanta olympic broadcasting. one of the velodromes for cycling. i was in production for eight years before i got my big break in dayton. nbc fox affiliate. this is brutally painful to look at, and i went by my married name -- paula krueger.

passenger air bags like this one in the nissan altima are causing eye injuries. they want ones like this recalled. nissan says there's no problem. bengals season under way. taking on the san diego charges. both teams have the longest playoff drop. cincinnati at 11, san diego at 6. both looking to start off with a win. >> the way we were. >> i was actually a sports reporter, too. launched -- >> your whole background in sports. >> news and sports in dayton. cincinnati and then chicago. i was primarily a sports reporter before this. >> look at that. >> i look ten mpt >> people want to know. another question they have, places to visit in chicago the you moved here to new york from chicago. tell me your hot spots? >> go to wrigley, even if not a cubs fan, lots to do, iconic venues. and if you want great views of the city, go to the top of the hancock building, signature room, buy a drink, and you can have amazing

views of one of the greatest cities on the planet. >> your love of chicago. and there's my favorite bar in new orleans. says a lot, doesn't it. ha-ha. favorite bar in new orleans. says a lot, doesn't it. ha-ha. and lunesta can help you get there, like it has for so many people before. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities while asleep, without remembering it the next day, have been reported. abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations or confusion. in depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicide, may occur. alcohol may increase these risks. allergic reactions, such as tongue or throat swelling, occur rarely and may be fatal. side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, dizziness and morning drowsiness. ask your doctor if lunesta is right for you. then find out how to get lunesta for as low as $15 at lunesta.com. there's a land of restful sleep.

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don't just vacuum clean, resolve clean. ♪ whistle baby whistle baby let me know ♪ ♪ that's my jam. all right. the second most closely watched contest in the country finally has a winner. >> the new co-host on "live with kelly" has been announced. give me a drum roll. it is former new york giant michael strahan. abc's t.j. winick caught up with him. >> reporter: kelly ripa's new on-air partner got the big welcome deserving a man of his stature. >> it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you the newest member of our "live" family, michael strahan! >> reporter: after nine months

and 59 guest co-hosts, the former new york giants football star who producers say was the best fit. >> definitely something special, individually with michael and also their chemistry was there. >> reporter: the first thing you notice about this pair, kelly is 5'3", strahan, 6'5." >> so nice to be able to have a co-host literally sweep you off your feet. and i know he could bench press me if he wanted to. >> reporter: i asked the duo about the new show's appeal. do you think you being on the show is going to grow the audience? >> i hope so. you know, i think being here definitely -- a different demographic coming from a sports background and the football macho background. >> reporter: you might not otherwise believe it, but this clip from 2008 shows this paring may have been in the stars. >> what are you going to do the rest of your life, a lot of personality, a lot of charisma, what do you think? >> the show i am on right now,

maybe you want to -- [ laughter ] >> legendary tv personality regis philbin stepped down from the low last november. >> if it weren't for him i wouldn't be sitting here. and i really appreciate all he has done. >> singer josh grobin and "saturday night live's" seth meyers were in the running, but the super bowl champion filled philbin's shoes. abc news, new york. >> didn't see that one coming at all. congratulations, michael. very, very cool. little bit about his personal life, too. he's actually engaged to nicole murphy, the ex-wife of eddie murphy. little bit about his private life. welcome to the family, in the morning. >> i think a pretty good mix, pretty good pairing. brings in the male audience. women love athletes. and i really think you should feel a little slighted. >> gave it my best shot. gave it my best shot. kelly was like, uh-uh. got the ax. >> i'll take you. >> thank you. uh-uh. got the ax. >> i'll take you. >> thank you. [ female announcer ] now get high speed internet at home

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this morning on "world news now," michelle obama wows the crowd in charlotte. the main event on opening night of the democratic national convention. >> our new poll numbers show the president needs some help keeping support among women. it's wednesday, september 5th. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." >> good wednesday morning, everyone. i'm paula faris. >> i'm rob nelson. we'll have highlights of the first lady's speech and what our poll numbers show about the presidential race coming up in just a moment. also this half-hour, important news about heart health from saving lives in an emergency to the silent killer putting so many americans at risk. and then a revealing e-mail trail from michael jackson's final days. we have new evidence of a troubled artist spinning out of control.

also later this half-hour, the women of "the talk" promise to take it all off. don't get the wrong idea. talking about their makeup. the daytime hosts want to show the world that bare is beautiful. details coming up in "the skinny." >> what do you think, should we do the show without makeup? >> not at these hours. >> you'd be beautiful. not so much. >> please. get out of here. first, president obama takes the stage in charlotte tomorrow night with his personal popularity slipping among women. >> our new poll shows his favorability at 47%, the lowest for any incumbent heading to a convention since the 1980s. challenger mitt romney's favorability is lower at 43% which reflects a very small nonexistent post-convention bounce. >> the democratic convention opened last night with someone who seemed to have no popularity problems in the least. >> the president wishes he had

her numbers. first lady michelle obama, the star attraction, speaking as a wife and mother and american with a bird's eye view of the presidency. abc's terry moran has more from charlotte. >> reporter: she is the president's not-so-secret weapon. >> serving as your first lady is an honor and a privilege. >> reporter: when she stepped into the spotlight, michelle obama was taking into primetime a role she has honed and grown into over the course of her four years in the white house. first, advocate. >> so, in the end, for barack these issues aren't political. they're personal. because barack knows what it means when a family struggles. >> reporter: and she spoke as only she could of how the presidency has shaped barack obama. >> i have seen firsthand that being president doesn't change who you are -- no, it reveals who you are. >> reporter: and so in the end

she spoke to all of those women and men in her universal role as mom. >> if we want to give all of our children a foundation for their dreams and opportunities worthy of their promise, if we want to give them that sense of limitless possibility, their belief that here in america, there is always something better out there if you're willing to work for it, then we must work like never before. [ cheers ] >> and we must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward, my husband, our president, barack obama! thank you. god bless you. god bless america. >> reporter: michelle obama's big night. i'm terry moran, abc news, charlotte, north carolina.

>> thanks to terry moran. and there was history made at last night's convention. for the first time, an hispanic american, julia castro, gave the keynote. one of several major speakers captivating the democrats while lashing out at the republicans. >> there was no -- there was no blueprint or how-to manual for fixing a global financial meltdown, an auto crisis, two wars and a great recession, all at the same time. believe me, if it existed, i would have found it. each crisis was so deep and so dangerous. any one of them would have defined another presidency. our platform calls for a balanced deficit reduction plan where everyone -- everyone from elected officials to the wealthy and the super wealthy pay their fair share. >> mitt romney quite simply doesn't get it.

a few months ago he visited a university in ohio and gave students there a little entrepreneurial advice. start a business, he said. but how? borrow money if you have to from your parents, he told them. gee, why didn't i think of that? >> you can see a definite appeal much like last week, too. the middle class. the first lady a lot of interesting lines. quote, for barack's success, it is not how much money you make but the difference you make in people's lives. she also said barack knows the american dream, he lived it, he wants everyone in the country to have the same opportunity no matter who we are, where we are from, what we look like or who we love. >> they really appeal to the base whether or not they were able to reach out and get some extraneous independent voters, romney, ryan camp said no mention of the economy, no mention whether or not you are

better today than four years ago. so -- but moishl obama stole the show. >> she did. >> hands down. >> a lot of critique what they say. critique what doesn't get mentioned. two days to go. romney's criticism. didn't mention afghanistan, did not say the word "war" in the speech. people look at what does get said, what doesn't. day two, here we go. things are getting interesting. did have the crowd roaring last night. very eloquent speech. >> i just want her shoulders and arms. no wonder barack doesn't mess with her, right? >> that's right. she runs that, mom in chief. well, turning now to a couple of major medical headlines, one suggests doctors may be guessing up too soon when performing cpr. a new study suggesting that doctors are not persistent enough when a patient needs cpr. researchers found that as little as nine minutes additional cpr gave patients suffering a heart attack better odd of surviving.

government health experts say americans still aren't taking care of their blood pressure. one in three american adults has high blood pressure. more than half don't have it under control. according to the cdc, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, something all of us that work the night shift should be cognizant of. >> amen to that. well, a woman from texas is suing starbucks, blaming a barista for her burns. she says that the lid on her cup of hot tea was not sealed. the drink spilled on her causing second-degree burns. her attorneys say starbucks' cups are poorly designed and are demanding starbucks pay her for her medical bills, lost income as well as damages for pain and suffering. so far no comment from starbucks itself. we have seen this story couple years ago. coffee from mcdonald's. the woman sued. seinfeld did a joke episode on. all that. who knows? sometimes the stuff is really too hot. have to wait a half-hour for it

to cool down. >> i have had tea before. seems like it is a little too hospital. undrinkable. mcdonald's has the disclaimer because of their litigation. we are not sure how much this woman is going after. in washington they don't have to disclose it. >> one of our producers brought up an interesting point, you should not align the part of the lid open to sip, that should not be aligned with the crease of the cup. that is a vulnerable point for the water, whatever, coffee, tea, to spill on you. that's, that's some cup engineering advice for you. don't align the sip portion with the seam down the back of the cup. >> drink out of a mug. cheers. >> there you go, salud. >> beer in there? >> vodka. all right. here's your wednesday weather, everybody. heavy rain and flash flooding from the carolinas up to maine. thunderstorms along the gulf coast. hail, dangerous winds around milwaukee, st. louis, indianapolis. stormy from the desert southwest to the texas panhandle. >> triple digits in phoenix, dallas. 80s, detroit to the east coast. 70s from billings to minneapolis. to the other side of the

world now and an extraordinary apartment building. the garage is just one reason why only singapore's super rich live there. >> okay, you drive into it, leave the car there, take your own elevator to your apartment. your fanny car takes its own elevator, as well. also right to your apartment. what car doesn't need its own personal elevator? >> look at that. when it gets to your floor, the car is moved into place automatically. not only do residents never have to find parking, they can keep an eye on their fancy wheels whenever they're at home. oh! >> what if you drive a honda? beat-up honda? >> who cares? look at that. >> own fancy shack. >> amazing what people do who have way too much money. sweet, though. i like that. >> lamborghini? coming up next, chad johnson makes an indelible statement about his troubled marriage. and all the e-mail traffic involving michael jackson just days before he passed away. the secrets revealed and some

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and the king of pop is announcing his stunning comeback. >> this is it. this is it. >> reporter: just hours before that press conference, randy phillips, president of aeg live, allegedly e-mailed company bosses back in l.a. m.j. is locked in his room, drunk and despondent wrote phillips. are you kidding me, came the replay? he is an emotional mess, riddled with self-loathing and doubt now that it's showtime. these messages are among 250 pages of e-mails obtained by "los angeles times." michael jackson described in them is a jackson the public never saw. ♪ >> reporter: not even in "this is it," the behind-the-scenes movie documenting prep for the disturbing comeback.

but this slurred phone message recorded a month before his death played at conrad murray's trial seems to support assertions jackson was not well. the underwriter of the comeback show is new suing aeg, claiming the company lied about jackson's health to secure a $17.5 million insurance policy. jackson's heirs are also suing aeg, claiming promoters pressured him to perform. we could not reach aeg for comment, but aeg claiming promoters pressured him. lawyers for the company told the l.a. times these messages are incomplete and leaked to portray the company in a negative light. nick watt, abc news, los angeles. ♪ >> wow, there is not a bigger m.j. fan on the planet than i am. it is just unbelievable to see just his last couple months how sad they were, how completely unraveled he seemed to be. for all that talent, all that money, all that fame and just in the end led to such a tragic ending for him. >> you hate for the sort of stuff to come out after the fact

after they passed away when they can't defend themselves. >> hard to defend some of the voice mails. let him rest in peace. all said and done now. wow, a sad ending to an otherwise -- boundless career. you know what i mean? all right. coming up next, michael strahan's state of mind before he got his new big job. and a permanent and painful move by chad johns on to repair his marriage. it's all next in "the skinny." >> announcer: abc's "world news now" will continue after this from our abc stations. -- chad johnson to repair his ♪

♪ skinny ♪ so skinny well, the worst-kept secret in tv is now out there. of course, the new host with kelly ripa is michael strahan of football glory here. an interesting side note here, and, show yesterday, kelly brought him out, took her up in the big bear hug. he and kelly. what won her over was the fact that he lost a sports bet to her and had to babysit for her kids. and his ability to be a mr. mom figure won her over. that's how he kind of got the job. he will continue doing fox nfl sunday, his original gig. he says he was more nervous

yesterday coming out on the stage than he was before any of his professional football games. so a new chapter in the long history of the show begins. congratulations, michael and kelly. wish you nothing but success. >> he was a giant in the giants and cowboys kickoff, the nfl season tonight. chad ochocinco, head butted his wife, evelyn lozado who filed for divorce. he tried to woo her back on twitter. he got a new tattoo. a face of evelyn. he changed his profile. he said don't follow me, i'm not perfect. not a role model, not into acting the i love all that from the e to the n, evelyn. trying to woo her back. impression of her on the calf. >> that is a tattoo on the calf. >> tat of her face. >> she is a beautiful woman. can't imagine any woman getting head butted and sticking by. >> the head butt not portrayed in the tattoo. >> don't think so.

also, the women of "the talk" interesting season premiere coming september 10th. decided, sharon osbourne and company to go makeup free. sharon osbourne, and their guest, jamie lee curtis will go sans makeup. and decided the ultimate way to be real and authentic would be to go on without hair, makeup. tune in for the season premiere. should interesting to see them dressed down. >> you have seen me without my hair and makeup. you don't recognize me. >> you're fine. >> it's bad. >> we'll see. a couple of post baby bods to show you and talk about jessica simpson. signed the deal with weight watchers. she tells people, my body is not bouncing back. an everyday woman trying to feel good.

apparently works out with a trainer, four, five times a week. has not revealed her current weight. she will appear in weight watchers ads beginning next week. and she will reveal her post baby body on kate -- katie's new show on september 10th. >> when jessica simpson was in her fighting shape, "dukes of hazard" days, she was nothing to mess with. looked great. >> looked amazing. snooki meanwhile, six days after she had her baby, posting pictures on twitter. slowly getting my swag back, post pregnancy. tweeted another with the caption, mamacita. >> go, snooki. >> still has time to do hair and makeup. >> jersey girl! also here. justin bieber news. high tweeted a picture of himself. he now has a seventh tattoo, this one a crown on his right collarbone. a tribute to his idol michael jackson. discussing a few men us at go. seven tattoos. he loves the ink. bieber is all tatted up.

>> going to break the news when he sprouts chest hair. >> sure we'll cover it. hen he sprouts chest hair. >> i'm sure j-man will cover it. . and lunesta can help you get there, like it has for so many people before. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities while asleep, without remembering it the next day, have been reported. abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations or confusion. in depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicide, may occur. alcohol may increase these risks. allergic reactions, such as tongue or throat swelling, occur rarely and may be fatal. side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, dizziness and morning drowsiness. ask your doctor if lunesta is right for you. then find out how to get lunesta for as low as $15 at lunesta.com. there's a land of restful sleep.

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♪ baby do the humpty-hump ♪ baby do the humpty-hump >> go, rob. go, rob. >> let's get over that hump. yes, indeed. it is a cross between dancing, gymnastics and acrobatics, cirque du soleil. one of the most successful and unique shows to hit the stage. >> a group of performers trying to land a job with the troupe, and kabc discovered what it takes. >> reporter: samuel ortiz is one of many that auditioned for the

upcoming cirque du soleil productions. >> they must be able to evoke an emotion and put across their artistic feelings. >> some artists like simone have been doing this for years. others came to the circus in a round-about way. >> i wanted to take gymnastics when i was a little girl. and i had swimming lessons instead. so, i grew up and ran away with the circus pretty much. >> reporter: all agree that this is the opportunity of a lifetime. >> it's like the best you can do in your career. it's the top. so, could be amazing. >> reporter: in order to be at this particular audition they had to ask you to be here. for the upcoming auditions they're looking for new moves. >> these general auditions, we are not looking for anything, we are hoping to find something.

>> reporter: all who auditioned today hope that they have that special something to make them stand out. >> i threw out really hard tricks, took a bunch of risks. basically what my entire life has been. tried to go all out. >> reporter: abc news. >> wow. that is amazing. the training you have to go through to pull some of that stuff off. >> i heard you can lift your leg above your head. >> no, that would be you there. look at that. >> i was flexible in my days. >> how did you enjoy your days there on stage? >> well, i can't walk the same anymore. so -- how do we get out of that without getting into trouble? >> they know, they know upstairs. >> they want me to say how else do you think i got my husband. i just lost my job, what's that? >> more from abc next. >> i'm fired now. >> announcer: this is abc's "world news now," informing inso1ñ this

this morning on "world news now" -- charlotte charm. michelle obama delivers what some were saying is an electrifying speech at the democratic national convention. >> but will the first lady's message translate into votes, especially from women? it's wednesday, september 5th. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." good wednesday morning, everybody. i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm paula faris. quick shout out to my daughter, caroline, she is 5 today. she should not be up watching. in a moment, the first lady talks about her husband and the future of the country. and the staggering debt americans will be paying for, the new numbers that have paul ryan licking his chops. later this half-hour, the

heavy toll hurricane isaac took on gulf coast schools. so many students adrift with the classrooms underwater. then, fun and games with a little learning along the way, of course. we have a look at some of the best educational toys out there. parents. >> favorite game, state capitals. >> i quizzed you. i was the champ back in the day. >> good at the capitals? >> i still know the capitals, and i still know how to spell anti-disestablishmentarianism. >> that's how she got to the network. >> right, baby. first, michelle obama was the highlight on the convention's first night. >> trying to connect with a voting group that may hold the key to the president's re-election chances. karen travers joining us from charlotte this morning. hi, karen. >> reporter: good morning, rob. good morning, paula. democrats call her the closer.

last night, first lady michelle obama made a sales pitch for her husband's re-election. first lady michelle obama brought down the house. her speech was personal. she spoke about the president's values and judgment during challenging times. >> we learned about dignity and decency, that how hard you work matters more than how much you make. that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself. >> reporter: mrs. obama said to keep the country moving forward, voters need to give her husband four more years. the first lady is immensely popular, and democrats hope her speech pays off immediately with a key voting group the president needs in november. for the first time more women disapprove of the president than approve. he is down 11 points since april. in addition to women, the the needs latinos to turn out for him on election day. for their keynote speaker,

democrats chose san antonio mayor julian castro. like the president, castro was raised buy a single mom, want to -- went to harvard law, and is now an up and comer in the democratic party. >> my mother fought hard for civil rights, so that instead of a mop, i could hold this microphe >> reporter: castro said t republican ticket just >> and with the opportunity we build today for a shared will prevail. it begins with re-electing barack obama! it begins with you! it begins now! may god bless you. >> reporter: tonight former president bill clinton is the main event. his remarks aimed at unhappy 2008 obama voters who may be undecided nercf1 & back to >> thank yoen. and while politicians from both parties are talking about the economy of course, the country's the treasury department says the

national dealt has now topped $16 trillion for the firsti ever. that is more than $50,000 for every single person in ameca. the governme's c limit is $16.39 yep, washington will have to scramble yet again to raise the debt limit, this time by early 2013. republican vice presidential candidate paul ryan predictably wasted no time talking about the new debt figure. campaigning in iowa, ryan told a crowd at the college that the debt is threatening jobs and the future of children and grandchildren. >> the problem is the president keeps kicking the can down the road. no leadership on this issue. the senate hasn't passed a budget in three years. >> ryan told the crowd that the president broke a promise about the debt and this was the worst. >> $16 million. >> trillion. >> should have finished my monster drink. >> that's why the republicans

had the debt clock at the convention. a constant visual reminder of the debt in the country and obama has presided over the biggest explosion in debt of any president ever that along with other -- unemployment rate is hanging over the democratic convention this week. and we heard personal from the first lady. as we get deeper into the election, from obama himself, we need toúj hear more about how are you going forward going to get us out of the financial mess. key question. >> need a little more meat and michelle n speech. people need to know, how, what? >> the wives are never there for meat a ann romney wasn't there for meat and potatoes. i love you women! that's not meat and potatoe policy later in the week we will see. >> looking forward to hearing from bill clinton tonight.

>> i love you, america. good to be back. >> good impression of him, too. rob has so many talents. moving on now to the jerry sandusky sexual abuse case and the legal costs for penn state university. lhe school spent nearly $1cf1 3 million of that gone to firms for internal investigations, and crisis communications. and nearly $4 million went to legal services and defense expenses. the numbers will go higher, the school is facing lawsuits from sandusky's accusers. an 82-year-old woman whose rap sheet goes back 50 years pled not guilty to burglary. during the hearing, doris ann gamble was angry and asked reporters why they were there treating an 82-year-old woman like she was dillinger. she's accused of raiding clinics -- that's terrible. we shouldn't be laughing, we are. past closing hours to steal money. she asked for donations so she could buy snacks. she is a fighter. >> she is feisty. don't mess with her in the hole. >> oh, sweet old lady. yes, indeed. schoolchildren in louisiana are getting an extended summer

vacation for good reason thanks to isaac. but they cannot enjoy too much, since their homes and neighborhood are still damaged underwater in some cases. abc's ryan owens has more. >> reporter: sean mccurly should be in school. instead he's helping his parents clear debris from their laplace, louisiana, ho home. they could use the help. >> don't even know where to begin, to be honest with you. it is hot and sticky and my house is stinky and -- and the carpets are all wet and mold is growing. >> reporter: nearly their entire neighborhood had to be rescued by boat last week. one thing that couldn't be saved -- the nearby elementary school. classrooms were flooded with a foot and a half of water. clean-up crews roamed the halls instead of 650 students. while this may be the first day of school for most in louisiana, about 130 public schools are closed in the hardest hit parishes. here in st. john parish, they are now planning to open the schools next week. some of the schools. east st. john high school is still surrounded by water.

it will be months before kids can return here. right now, the parish is scrambling to figure out when and where those students will go back to class. ryan owens, abc news, laplace, louisiana. >> think about all the children. i don't know -- displaced from their homes, and any sort of semblance of routine and school. >> few more days. just like, in the north, they had built-in snow days. obviously, in that part of the country, they had built-in storm days, hurricane dates. they will make it up when it is hot again back next may or june. not the start to the school year a lot of the folks would have imagined. >> normally enjoy the days. when you're a kid you listen, a snow day. not so much. >> helping mom and dad clean up. dry out. well, it was exactly seven month ago to the date that the new york giants beat the new england patriots in the super bowl. now we are just hours away from the start of a new nfl season. giants open their title defense tonight at home against division

rivals, dallas cowboys. the same two teams ended the past regular season against each other. division title on the line. giants won. 31-14. giants four-point favorites in the game, they have home field advantage. >> i always roots against the cowboys. let's go, new york giants. >> i am going to go for the cowboys. >> just to spite me. >> to be the antagonist. >> appreciate that. here's a look at your forecast, everybody. wet again along the gulf coast. more downpours along from the mid-atlantic to new england. stormy from st. louis to grand rapids. around detroit and cincinnati as well. >> a sweltering 100 degrees in dallas, predicting will win the game. 90s, kansas city, to chicago. 80s on the east coast. from boise to salt lake city. >> grew up as an eagles' fan. can never root for the cowboys. it's against religion in philadelphia. can't do that. our first look at some of the rarest animals on earth, white tigers born in july at a zoo in the czech republic. >> to give you an idea how rare

they are, one in every 10,000 bengal tigers is born white with black stripes. in the past 100 years, only a dozen have been spotted in the wild. >> starting today, the public has its chance to vote on the name of one of the male cubs. they can pick from a list of five names, liam, titan, woody and two others. >> woody? >> difficult to pronounce so i will not even try. the little tigers are going to be baptized on saturday. big couple days for the fellows. >> what would you name it? >> i don't know. >> toothy. >> teethy. >> see the fangs. >> i wouldn't mess with it. coming up next, couples who wait to have sex. is it really worth it? >> hmm. and a heavy issue for kids heading back to school, why overweight kids may have a tougher time -- >> don't be a prude. you prude. >> you're watching "world news now." ♪ but i do know that i love you ♪ >> announcer: "world news now"

weather brought to you by peachtree settlement funding. . the crisp northern air of acadia, the falling leaves. the perfect inspiration for air wick's fall collection. when i smell that, i know fall is in the air. the fall collection from air wick and the national park foundation. something in the air wick.

♪ don't know much about history ♪ ♪ don't know much biology >> it is no secret there are serious complications that go along with childhood obesity. >> now a new study that shows children who deal with the issues are also facing a challenge in the classroom. abc's senior medical contributor, dr. timothy johnson, has the story. >> reporter: about one in 12 american children or adolescents has metabolic syndrome, a combination of obesity, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, and low levels of good cholesterol, hdl. a study in the journal of pediatrics looked at 110 teenagers. those with metabolic syndrome showed significantly lower math and spelling scores and lower attention span and mental

flexibility. the areas of their brains involving learning and memory were also smaller. the more metabolic syndrome symptoms the teens had the greater the negative effects. though sample size was small, the study indicates a few years of metabolic syndrome can impact brain function. authors say they hope this study will motivate families with children with metabolic syndrome to change their lifestyles. dr. timothy johnson. >> the two biggest factors in childhood obesity. want to take a stab at them? >> lack of exercise. poor diet. >> parental obesity. too much time in front of the tv or any other various media. >> sedentary, video games. texting all day. and sad, you hear horror stories about 3-year-olds, 5-year-olds with pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure. people shouldn't deal with until late in life. kids are getting it.

so when you hear debates about the big sodas, exercise, a reason the country is getting worked up. after the break, some products that might offer a bit of a solution to the problem. >> up next, toy insider mom will be here to show you some of the best toys. >> announcer: abc's "world news now" will continue after this from our abc stations.

♪ abc easy as one two three welcome back, everybody. keeping the fun in a child's play time while making sure they still learn can be tough, almost in possible. the two are not mutually exclusive. and our toy insider mom, here to show us toys that tackle both. always love it when you are here, laurie. always so eye opening. all the toys so educational. >> kids are back in school, almost there. there are great toys that teach. they're lots of fun. cover all subjects. let's start with our little ones. this is our spiderman chair desk.

look how cool this is. a great place for kids to color, to, to study, the best of all, got storage. and who is not going to want to learn with spider-man? our single school bus and baby genius friend. >> okay. >> okay, kids watch their siblings get on the school bus. little ones want to go too. so he tells us -- >> all aboard. >> to come on. >> uh-uh, no toys that make noise at my household. this is cute. >> remember this. the wheels on the bus go round and round. round and round. ♪ >> there is an off button thank god. >> there is an off button. let's talk geography. this is our encyclopedia britannica talking puzzle. first it is -- i know you want to do this. >> i do. i was the biggest nerd with state capitals. >> press the state. >> capital, tallahassee. >> you hear the state, the

nickname and the capital. lots of great activities. when we want to talk about global, this is our discovery kids activity global world map. so you can hang this up. and it is velcro. basically now the kids are learning where the different countries are, different bodies of water, and animals that are native to the different areas. >> perfect. >> let's talk about this. this is our, let's get ready for kindergarten. a whole reading series. this goes with the tag pen. what the pen does is it actually brings pages to life. so, if i hit this. >> say it. touch a word. >> you touch a word and it tells you what the word is. >> we have math in here. we have science. we have -- all kind of things. we can do our vowels. >> e, a, o, u. >> as long as you have the pen. you can buy the books. >> math, science, reading, obviously in here.

just so much fun. >> love that. >> also from leapfrog, telling time. this is great because it is a dry erase activity board. >> most of you are watching right about now. >> see that. >> a.m. >> fill this in. as kids are writing, it is so easy to erase. you use the dry erase pen. okay. so, the most popular family board game in mexico. >> i did not know that. >> just like bingo. it starts with the card. and a caller will pick different cards, the rooster, and you will put pieces down, and if you get four in a row you win. >> great to introduce bilingual skills. >> basing vocabulary, english, spanish. just a lot of fun. >> speaking of fun. >> now, science. this is called disgusting science.

the most disgusting experiments kids can do. they can grow bacteria. they can make blood. we are going to make snot. >> uh-huh. did i put a little too much? >> i little. that's okay, mix it up. >> what they're going to learn when you finish mixing you are going to feel it. what you will feel is it is very, very sticky. >> just like snot. >> mucous is actually doing something in their nose. catching dust and dirt. and finally, this is our solar energy system. it's about kids learning to harness the sunlight, energy. cheating a little. couldn't get the sun in here. able to do it this way. really, really cool. >> you are always -- a nice ray of sunshine in our studio. she is laurie schecter, toy insider. thank you for showing us the amazing educational toys. if you want any information go to our facebook page, wnn.com. you are watching "world news now." we'll be right back. ♪ one, two, throw baby you and me girl ♪

me girl ♪ ow baby you and me girl ♪ have given way to sleeping. where sleepless nights yield to restful sleep. and lunesta can help you get there, like it has for so many people before. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities hd3 hallucinations or confusion. in depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicide, may occur. alcohol may increase these risks. allergic reactions, such as tongue or throat swelling, occur rarely and may be fatal. side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, dizziness and morning drowsiness. ask your doctor if lunesta is right for you. then find out how to get lunesta for as low as $15 at lunesta.com. there's a land of restful sleep.

we can help you go there on the wings of lunesta.

welcome back, everybody. headline says it all here. a new study out of cornell university here in the u.s. it says the wait is worth it. studies looking at the effects of sex before marriage find it is better not to, meaning early sexual satisfaction stunts development of key ingredients for a thriving relationship. meaning the longer you wait to have sex, the better the relationship is and potentially the better the marriage is. talked to 600 couples. a third of men and women said they had sex in the first month. 28% waited six months. those who waited scored more highly in every category measured than those who got intimate within the first month. >> interesting. they polled married folks and

people that were -- >> cohabiting. >> cohabiting. very interesting. i'm not going to reveal -- >> i knew you wouldn't. but let's say you wait six months, things go great. you get to the sex, and it is unsatisfying. then what? you are invested in the person. then you get to the deed and then. >> dirty deed. >> not really do it for you. then what? you are stuck like chuck, with some one who can't -- but you know what i mean? >> can't what? >> not going to complete the rhyme. ha-ha-ha. >> ha-ha. >> but, so, just, food for thought. i love those kind of studies. >> very interesting. >> won't -- >> something for y'all to just chew on. chew on that. >> playing off that last little bit of information. does, you know, your girlfriend help dress you and pick out your outfits? >> i ask advice. i don't like her shirt/tie combination. i go with mine. >> you do? >> i do, yeah. >> my husband has much more

style sense than i do. this study out of britain says that more than half of men confess that they rely on the woman in their life, their spouse or partner, to pick out their outfits for the next day. on the rare occasions that they do choose their outfits half admit that they ask their partner or mom to approve the ensemble. one of four asks their wife or girlfriend to shop for them. most guys get ready in less than two minutes. i say complete ly minutes. not fair. rob is in the makeup chair, how long? i am in more like ten hours. >> you are more complicated creatures if i will ask jenny. am i dressed okay? do you look shopping with yourself or other people? >> i hate shopping. i would rather somebody pick out my outfits. i am happiest, ponytail, jeans, tank top. >> you are low maintenance. i like that. some get dolled up to go to the supermarket. i think that's ridiculous. you are no frills. i like that. >> you like that? >> keep it chill. jeans on tonight -- keep it classy, i like y1ñ

this morning on "world news now" -- rousing reception. michelle obama asked america to vote for the man she loves. >> the first lady stepped into the spotlight in charlotte giving her pitch for the president's second term. it is wednesday, september 5th. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." good wednesday morning, everybody. i'm rob nelson. >> i'm paula faris. michelle obama's passionate speech got cheers and some tears from the democratic delegates. we'll take you live to charlotte in a moment. you are also going to see how the rich and powerful are enjoying plenty of perks at the dnc. abc's brian ross on the money trail with the mega donors. he did this as well at the rnc. in this half-hour, on the front lines of a dangerous

california fire-fight. why the battle in the steep rugged terrain outside l.a. is far from over. something gross in the gulf coast hurricane zone. thousands and thousands of swamp rats. adding insult to injury after isaac. good thing you can't smell them on tv. something that you experience when you are down there. >> swamp rats, so we are clear, is not the official term. nutria. huge, beaver-like creatures that are massive and becoming a problem. right there -- look at the thing. in the clean-up here. it is messy on many levels down there. scary part is some people actually eat nutria. they can be. >> enjoy your breakfast. first, michelle obama, the first lady, rallied the troops and emotional character portrait of her husband last night. >> designed to highlight differences between barack obama and mitt romney. our coverage begins live with karen travers live from charlotte this morning. good morning, karen. >> reporter: good morning, paul, rob. democrats call the first lady

the closer. last night she made her sales pitch for her husband's re-election. first lady michelle obama brought down the house. [ cheers ] >> reporter: her speech was personal. she spoke about the president's values and judgment during challenging times. >> barack and i were both raised by families who didn't have much in the way of money or material possessions, but who had given us something far more valuable. their unconditional love. >> reporter: mrs. obama said to keep the country moving forward voters need to give her husband four more years. the first lady is immensely popular, and democrats hope her speech pays off immediately with a key voting group that the president needs in november. for the first time more women disapprove of the president than approve. he is down 11 points since april. in addition to women, the

president needs latinos to turn out for him on election day. for their keynote speaker, democrats chose san antonio mayor, julian castro. like the president, castro was raised by a single mom, went to harvard law, and now an up and comer in the democratic party. >> my mother fought hard for civil rights so that instead of a mop, i could hold this microphone. >> reporter: castro said the republican ticket just doesn't get it. >> we all understand that freedom isn't free. what romney and ryan don't understand is that neither is opportunity. we have to invest in it. >> reporter: tonight's main event, former president bill clinton. his speech is aimed at those 2008 obama voters who are unhappy, but they're undecided now and might be persuadable. rob, paula. >> all right, karen. i heard somebody say regarding the first lady's speech and whether she got the job done. she said i love barack more now than four years ago. the problem

is a lot of people don't feel the same. did she get the job done with her speech and pulling in maybe the disenchanted voters? >> reporter: paula, if you judged by the reaction in the room she won them over. you are right, that's not who she is reaching out to. she is trying to reach the voters at home who are still a little iffy now on the president. they're not sure they would switch to mitt romney as well. this speech was personal, she talked about her biography, the values that she and the president share. but it was also partisan. it was political. but very subtly political. she did not mention the word romney at all in her speech. it was clear who she was talking about. the president values success not by how much money but influence you have had. growing up her and the president were taught success is something you get through opportunity and something, opportunity that you need to invest in you. and that is clear she is trying to draw the contrast between the speeches that were said at the republican convention last week. but of course, we'll be seeing over the next couple days whether or not she was able to make the pitch to the viewers at home.

>> again, obviously a heartfelt reach out to women voters and to the middle class for sure. there were key voters in this. also the issue of small businesses because last week we heard republicans talk about we built this. in response to earlier comments by the president. how are democrats responding to the whole we built this attitude? >> reporter: rob, they came up with a slogan of their own. you saw it on signs and fans in the room tonight, we made it possible. that was also echoed tonight in julian castro's speech. republicans said when the president said government helped you build your small business, they thought the president was taking credit for entrepreneurship. the president was taking for credit for people trying to build their small business. tonight and the rest of this week, democrats are going to say it's the small people that are part of those companies. the workers, working class voters that made that possible. if you are successful with your small business, somebody helped you. and they're saying it's a

democratic voter who did that. >> the first lady will be a tough act to follow. what do you expect from bill clinton tonight? >> tonight. bill clinton speaking. the stage to himself. the biggest event. this is a speech they are hoping reminds people of what it was like to have a democratic president elected to a second term. he will remind americans about prosperous times of the late '90s. a bit of a risk there. bill clinton is immensely popular. you didn't want to remind people how popular he is, and make them wish he was president and not barack obama. >> bill does have tendency to own the room when he is up there. known for his speeches. we will see how it plays out. thanks to abc's karen travers live in charlotte. thank you, karen. we'll bring you more from charlotte later this half-hour, see how democrats are wined and dined. live coverage returns to night at 10:00 eastern with former president bill clinton's big speech. day, two here we go. the wildfire that drove thousands of people from the angeles national forest over the labor day

weekend not expected to be fully under control until next week. the fire is now 25% contained and still chewing through thick brush. it is moving further into the woods away from a mobile home park, but it is proving to be quite a challenge for nearly 800 firefighters on the ground. >> it is just going to take a while. it is so steep in here. we have slopes of anywhere from 30 to 90 degree in angle. pretty much a sheer drop-off. so we want to put our folks in here and put them in here safe. >> 3,800 acres have burned thus far. firefighters thankful the santa ana winds haven't kicked up yet. >> all right. if you're eating, you may want to put the plate down right now. we have details about the aftermath of isaac. some areas of the gulf coast are dealing with a sort of post storm stench. it is coming from the estimated 15,000 swamp rats, known as nutria, that have washed up along stretches of mississippi beach. contractors are using pitch forks and front loaders to remove the swollen, smelly animals. the same thing actually happened

four years ago after hurricane gustav. >> it is very sickening to me. we actually just finished in the process of finishing, not finished, our beach in the county. thousands saying we're in the process of moving. and placing. and look at it now. >> he says the smell is so bad that some contractors who were hired to help with the removal have simply walked off the job. dead deer, coyotes and hogs have been removed from the beaches. >> nutria, what they are called? >> nutria. >> makes me think that there's some sort of nutrition involved? >> you would be wrong. reading too much into that. all right. moving forward to the work of a master. introducing the painting elephant at the zoo in prague, czech republic. >> her paintings selling for $2,000 each right now. their value could go up.

because she is taking a break from painting while she gets used to a new enclosure. >> her handlers say if she doesn't take up the brush soon, the value of her original dozen paintings would skyrocket and be considered collector's items. >> she can paint, 10, 15 minutes. apparently pachyderms have adhd. can't hold her attention longer than that. >> reminds me of someone. coming up next, back to our top story this morning. the democratic convention and mix of big money and politics. later, why michael strahan may have had his eye on regis philbin's seat for quite some time. you're watching "world news now." ♪ i can't see me loving nobody but you ♪ ♪ for all my life >> announcer: "world news now" weather brought to you by -- ♪ for all my life >> announcer: "world news now" weather brought to you by -- >> announcer: "world news now" weather brought to you by -- every time someone chooses finish over cascade,

it sparks a movement. look ! no ugly spots ! and see that shine ! you've got to try finish. because once they try finish, they can't keep it to themselves. i'm switching for good. wow ! awesome ! finish is seriously good. cannot believe how great it works. incredible shine. i won't use anything else. love, love, love finish ! so far over a million neighbors, friends, and family have switched to finish. join the finish revolution. recommended by more dishwasher brands worldwide. have given way to sleeping. where sleepless nights yield to restful sleep. and lunesta can help you get there, like it has for so many people before. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities while asleep, without remembering it the next day, have been reported. abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations or confusion. in depressed patients, worsening of depression,

including risk of suicide, may occur. alcohol may increase these risks. allergic reactions, such as tongue or throat swelling, occur rarely and may be fatal. side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, dizziness and morning drowsiness. ask your doctor if lunesta is right for you. then find out how to get lunesta for as low as $15 at lunesta.com. there's a land of restful sleep. we can help you go there on the wings of lunesta.

turning back now to our lead story, the democratic national convention, and the parade of big names set to speak there in front of the cameras.

behind the scenes there is also big names, mega donors, names you don't often hear. >> uh-huh. they have raised millions for president obama. for some that has been a gateway for perks, favors, jobs. here is abc's brian ross, once again on the money trail. >> reporter: just like the republicans, the democrats in charlotte are treating big money people like political royalty. >> they're the convention delegates and then the elite. >> reporter: this confidential campaign document lays out the perks for super donors. top package for those who raised more than $1 million. with access to places most delegates will never see, including this invitation-only concert by pop singer john legend. >> the top rung players. basically most delegates to the conventions and most american people are left out of this loop. >> reporter: in addition to the perks there are jobs for the biggest obama fundraisers. from our money trail files from the 2008 convention, we found allen katz named ambassador to portugal

after raising $500,000 plus. and another big obama fund raiser four years ago. how much money did you raise? >> i can't disclose that. >> between $200,000 and $500,000 was later appointed assistant secretary of congress. steve spinner raised more than $500,000. his reward at the department of energy where he pushed for the controversial $535 million federal loan to the now-bankrupt solyndra company, a loan never repaid. when we found spinner honored among big donors this year in charlotte he went out a side door. democratic partied officials blocked our camera crew from following. yet another $500,000 fundraiser here this week, chicago stockbroker, raj fernando, named to the board, resigned after abc

news asked about his qualifications to be on the board. it was not something fernando wanted to talk about this week. >> who are you? >> with abc news. >> reporter: we were ordered to stop asking questions of fernando, leave the hotel or face arrest. >> leave the property or you will be arrested. >> reporter: i will be arrested for asking questions? the democrats like to say they're different than the republicans more than anyone, but their money, use -- in fact, democrats like republicans continue to keep secret the name of some of the biggest donors to advocacy groups. the head of a superfund told me he operates just like karl rove and plans to continue to. brian ross, abc news, charlotte. >> we have seen this story twice now. so we can talk all day long about the divisions in our politics, democrat, republican, liberal, conservative, blue state, red state, the biggest divide that should concern all

of us is the divide between the haves and have-nots and special interests versus everyday folks and unbelievable influence, influence that money has on the democracy. it has today, a long time, and will for a while. all be concerned. >> moving on. >> be concerned. this edition of "world news now" inbox. and a trip today down memory lane. >> yes, we are opening up our personal archives to answer some fun questions. you are watching "world news now." >> announcer: abc's "world news now" will continue after this from our abc stations. archives to answer some fun questions. you are watching "world news now." >> announcer: abc's "world news now" will continue after this from our abc stations. 1ñ

it is wednesday morning. that means time for "world news now" inbox. we answer the questions that you have asked.

>> indeed. let's get to it. mattie wanted to know what was your first broadcasting job? i am relatively new to tv, my fifth year doing tv. i started in new orleans, cbs affiliate, wwl, number one station in new orleans. first day on the job was 7/7/07, they let me anchor the news show. the only one. unbelievably nervous. and the broadcast just went to cable. let's see what you got. i was a newspaper guy for years. that saturday noon came, this is how it went down. >> good saturday afternoon, everyone. it is 7/7/07, i am rob nelson in for lea zorich. we'll get to the stories. first let's check in with dawn brown and a quick look at the forecast. hey, dawn, people think today is lucky. are we going to get lucky with the weather? >> awful, god awful. >> great transition. >> i didn't know where to look. blinking too much.

shifting eyes side to side. never been more nervous on the saturday afternoon. that was the first day. >> diane sawyer? >> that was the first day in broadcasting. back in '07. what a long road. >> look almost a little younger but almost exactly the same. >> 15 pounds lighter. voice is different. everything is different. i have lost weight since i moved here. what about you? >> i actually started in tv behind the scenes in products, eight years. i have pictures. i started training for the '96 olympics, at the georgia state games. >> training to -- broadcast. trained with the atlanta olympic broadcasting. one of the velodromes for cycling. i was in production for eight years before i got my big break in dayton. nbc fox affiliate. this is brutally painful to look at, and i went by my married name -- paula krueger. take a look.

public citizen and auto safety say that passenger airbags like this one in the nissan altima are causing eye injuries. they want ones like this recalled. nissan says there's no problem. bengals season under way. taking on the san diego charges. both teams have the longest playoff drop. cincinnati at 11, san diego at 6. both looking to start off with a win. >> the way we were. >> i was actually a sports reporter, too. launched -- >> your whole background in sports. >> news and sports in dayton. cincinnati and then chicago. i was primarily a sports reporter before this. >> look at that. >> i look ten. >> people want to know. another question they have, places to visit in chicago. you moved here to new york from chicago. tell me your hot spots? >> go to wrigley, even if not a cubs fan, lots to do, iconic venues. and if you want great views of the city, go to the top of the hancock building, signature room, buy a drink, and you can have amazing views of one of the greatest cities on the planet. >> your love of chicago.

and there's my favorite bar in new orleans. says a lot, doesn't it. ha-ha. ♪ whistle baby whistle baby let me know ♪ ot, doesn't it. ha-ha. favorite bar in new orleans. says a lot, doesn't it. ha-ha. and lunesta can help you get there, like it has for so many people before. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities while asleep, without remembering it the next day, have been reported. abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations or confusion. in depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicide, may occur. alcohol may increase these risks. allergic reactions, such as tongue or throat swelling, occur rarely and may be fatal. side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, dizziness and morning drowsiness. ask your doctor if lunesta is right for you. then find out how to get lunesta for as low as $15 at lunesta.com. there's a land of restful sleep.

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resolve deep clean powder. don't just vacuum clean, resolve clean. ♪ whistle baby whistle baby let me know ♪ ♪ whistle baby whistle baby let me know ♪ ♪ that's my jam. all right. the second most closely watched contest in the country finally has a winner. >> the new co-host on "live with kelly" has been announced. give me a drum roll. it is former new york giant michael strahan. abc's t.j. winick caught up with him. >> reporter: kelly ripa's new on-air partner got the big welcome deserving a man of his stature. >> it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you the newest member of our "live" family, michael strahan! >> reporter: after nine months

and 59 guest co-hosts, the former new york giants football star who producers say was the best fit. >> definitely something special, individually with michael and also their chemistry was there. >> reporter: the first thing you notice about this pair, kelly is 5'3", strahan, 6'5." >> so nice to be able to have a co-host literally sweep you off your feet. and i know he could bench press me if he wanted to. >> reporter: i asked the duo about the new show's appeal. do you think you being on the show is going to grow the audience? >> i hope so. you know, i think being here definitely -- a different demographic coming from a sports background and the football macho background. >> reporter: you might not otherwise believe it, but this clip from 2008 shows this paring may have been in the stars. >> what are you going to do the rest of your life, a lot of personality, a lot of charisma, what do you think? >> the show i am on right now, maybe you want to -- [ laughter ]

>> legendary tv personality regis philbin stepped down from the show last november. >> if it weren't for him i wouldn't be sitting here. and i really appreciate all he has done. >> singer josh grobin and "saturday night live's" seth meyers were in the running, but the super bowl champion filled philbin's shoes. abc news, new york. >> didn't see that one coming at all. congratulations, michael. very, very cool. little bit about his personal life, too. he's actually engaged to nicole murphy, the ex-wife of eddie murphy. little bit about his private life. welcome to the family, in the morning. >> i think a pretty good mix, pretty good pairing. brings in the male audience. women love athletes. and i really think you should feel a little slighted. >> gave it my best shot. gave it my best shot. kelly was like, uh-uh. got the ax. >> i'll take you. >> thank you. >> i'll take you. >> thank you. uh-uh. got the ax. >> i'll take you. >> thank you. [ female announcer ] now get high speed internet at home

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this morning on "world news now," michelle obama wows the crowd in charlotte. the main event on opening night of the democratic national convention. >> our new poll numbers show the president needs some help keeping support among women. it's wednesday, september 5th. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." >> good wednesday morning, everyone. i'm paula faris. >> i'm rob nelson. we'll have highlights of the first lady's speech and what our poll numbers show about the presidential race coming up in just a moment. also this half-hour, important news about heart health from saving lives in an emergency to the silent killer putting so many americans at risk. and then a revealing e-mail trail from michael jackson's final days. we have new evidence of a troubled artist spinning out of

control. also later this half-hour, the women of "the talk" promise to take it all off. don't get the wrong idea. talking about their makeup. the daytime hosts want to show the world that bare is beautiful. details coming up in "the skinny." >> what do you think, should we do the show without makeup? >> not at these hours. >> you'd be beautiful. not so much. >> please. get out of here. first, president obama takes the stage in charlotte tomorrow night with his personal popularity slipping among women. >> our new poll shows his favorability at 47%, the lowest for any incumbent heading to a convention since the 1980s. challenger mitt romney's favorability is lower at 43% which reflects a very small nonexistent post-convention bounce. >> the democratic convention opened last night with someone who seemed to have no popularity problems in the least. >> the president wishes he had her numbers. first lady michelle obama, the star attraction, speaking as a

wife and mother and american with a bird's eye view of the presidency. abc's terry moran has more from charlotte. >> reporter: she is the president's not-so-secret weapon. >> serving as your first lady is an honor and a privilege. >> reporter: when she stepped into the spotlight, michelle obama was taking into primetime a role she has honed and grown into over the course of her four years in the white house. first, advocate. >> so, in the end, for barack these issues aren't political. they're personal. because barack knows what it means when a family struggles. >> reporter: and she spoke as only she could of how the presidency has shaped barack obama. >> i have seen firsthand that being president doesn't change who you are -- no, it reveals who you are. >> reporter: and so in the end she spoke to all of those women and men in her universal role as mom. >> if we want to give all of our children a foundation for their dreams and opportunities worthy of their promise, if we want to

give them that sense of limitless possibility, their belief that here in america, there is always something better out there if you're willing to work for it, then we must work like never before. [ cheers ] >> and we must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward, my husband, our president, barack obama! thank you. god bless you. god bless america. >> reporter: michelle obama's big night. i'm terry moran, abc news, charlotte, north carolina. >> thanks to terry moran. and there was history made at

last night's convention. for the first time, an hispanic american, julian castro, gave the keynote. one of several major speakers captivating the democrats while lashing out at the republicans. >> there was no -- there was no blueprint or how-to manual for fixing a global financial meltdown, an auto crisis, two wars and a great recession, all at the same time. believe me, if it existed, i would have found it. each crisis was so deep and so dangerous. any one of them would have defined another presidency. our platform calls for a balanced deficit reduction plan where everyone -- everyone from elected officials to the wealthy and the super wealthy pay their fair share. >> mitt romney quite simply doesn't get it. a few months ago he visited a university in ohio and gave students there a little entrepreneurial advice. start a business, he said. but how?

borrow money if you have to from your parents, he told them. gee, why didn't i think of that? >> you can see a definite appeal much like last week, too. the middle class. the first lady a lot of interesting lines. quote, for barack's success, it is not how much money you make but the difference you make in people's lives. she also said barack knows the american dream, he lived it, he wants everyone in the country to have the same opportunity no matter who we are, where we are from, what we look like or who we love. >> they really appeal to the base whether or not they were able to reach out and get some extraneous independent voters, romney, ryan camp said no mention of the economy, no mention whether or not you are better today than four years ago. so -- but michelle obama stole the show.

>> she did. >> hands down. >> a lot of critique what they say. critique what doesn't get mentioned. two days to go. romney's criticism. didn't mention afghanistan, did not say the word "war" in the speech. people look at what does get said, what doesn't. day two, here we go. things are getting interesting. did have the crowd roaring last night. very eloquent speech. >> i just want her shoulders and arms. no wonder barack doesn't mess with her, right? >> that's right. she runs that, mom in chief. well, turning now to a couple of major medical headlines, one suggests doctors may be guessing up too soon when performing cpr. a new study suggesting that doctors are not persistent enough when a patient needs cpr. researchers found that as little as nine minutes additional cpr gave patients suffering a heart attack better odd of surviving.

government health experts say americans still aren't taking care of their blood pressure. one in three american adults has high blood pressure. more than half don't have it under control. according to the cdc, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, something all of us that work the night shift should be cognizant of. >> amen to that. well, a woman from texas is suing starbucks, blaming a barista for her burns. she says that the lid on her cup of hot tea was not sealed. the drink spilled on her causing second-degree burns. her attorneys say starbucks' cups are poorly designed and are demanding starbucks pay her for her medical bills, lost income as well as damages for pain and suffering. so far no comment from starbucks itself. we have seen this story couple years ago. coffee from mcdonald's. the woman sued. seinfeld did a joke episode on. all that. who knows? sometimes the stuff is really too hot.

have to wait a half-hour for it to cool down. >> i have had tea before. seems like it is a little too hospital. undrinkable. mcdonald's has the disclaimer because of their litigation. we are not sure how much this woman is going after. in washington they don't have to disclose it. >> one of our producers brought up an interesting point, you should not align the part of the lid open to sip, that should not be aligned with the crease of the cup. that is a vulnerable point for the water, whatever, coffee, tea, to spill on you. that's, that's some cup engineering advice for you. don't align the sip portion with the seam down the back of the cup. >> drink out of a mug. cheers. >> there you go, salud. >> beer in there? >> vodka. all right. here's your wednesday weather, everybody. heavy rain and flash flooding from the carolinas up to maine. thunderstorms along the gulf coast. hail, dangerous winds around milwaukee, st. louis, indianapolis. stormy from the desert southwest to the texas panhandle. >> triple digits in phoenix, dallas. 80s, detroit to the east coast. 70s from billings to minneapolis. to the other side of the world now and an extraordinary apartment building.

the garage is just one reason why only singapore's super rich live there. >> okay, you drive into it, leave the car there, take your own elevator to your apartment. your fanny car takes its own elevator, as well. also right to your apartment. what car doesn't need its own personal elevator? >> look at that. when it gets to your floor, the car is moved into place automatically. not only do residents never have to find parking, they can keep an eye on their fancy wheels whenever they're at home. oh! >> what if you drive a honda? beat-up honda? >> who cares? look at that. >> own fancy shack. >> amazing what people do who have way too much money. sweet, though. i like that. >> lamborghini? coming up next, chad johnson makes an indelible statement about his troubled marriage. and all the e-mail traffic involving michael jackson just days before he passed away. the secrets revealed and some surprising correspondence.

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2009. and the king of pop is announcing his stunning comeback. >> this is it. this is it. >> reporter: just hours before that press conference, randy phillips, president of aeg live, allegedly e-mailed company bosses back in l.a. m.j. is locked in his room, drunk and despondent wrote phillips. are you kidding me, came the replay? he is an emotional mess, riddled with self-loathing and doubt now that it's showtime. these messages are among 250 pages of e-mails obtained by "los angeles times." michael jackson described in them is a jackson the public never saw. ♪ >> reporter: not even in "this is it," the behind-the-scenes movie documenting prep for the disturbing comeback. but this slurred phone message recorded a month before his death played at conrad murray's trial seems to support assertions jackson was not well. the underwriter of the comeback show is new suing aeg, claiming the company lied about jackson's health to secure a

$17.5 million insurance policy. jackson's heirs are also suing aeg, claiming promoters pressured him to perform. we could not reach aeg for comment, but aeg claiming promoters pressured him. lawyers for the company told the l.a. times these messages are incomplete and leaked to portray the company in a negative light. nick watt, abc news, los angeles. ♪ >> wow, there is not a bigger m.j. fan on the planet than i am. it is just unbelievable to see just his last couple months how sad they were, how completely unraveled he seemed to be. for all that talent, all that money, all that fame and just in the end led to such a tragic ending for him. >> you hate for the sort of stuff to come out after the fact after they passed away when they

can't defend themselves. >> hard to defend some of the voice mails. let him rest in peace. all said and done now. wow, a sad ending to an otherwise -- boundless career. you know what i mean? all right. coming up next, michael strahan's state of mind before he got his new big job. and a permanent and painful move by chad johnson to repair his marriage. it's all next in "the skinny." >> announcer: abc's "world news now" will continue after this from our abc stations. repair his

♪ skinny ♪ so skinny well, the worst-kept secret in tv is now out there. of course, the new host with kelly ripa is michael strahan of football glory here. an interesting side note here, and, show yesterday, kelly brought him out, took her up in the big bear hug. he and kelly. what won her over was the fact that he lost a sports bet to her and had to babysit for her kids. and his ability to be a mr. mom figure won her over. that's how he kind of got the job. he will continue doing fox nfl sunday, his original gig. he says he was more nervous

yesterday coming out on the stage than he was before any of his professional football games. so a new chapter in the long history of the show begins. congratulations, michael and kelly. wish you nothing but success. >> he was a giant in the giants and cowboys kickoff, the nfl season tonight. chad ochocinco, head butted his wife, evelyn lozado who filed for divorce. he tried to woo her back on twitter. he got a new tattoo. a face of evelyn. he changed his profile. he said don't follow me, i'm not perfect. not a role model, not into acting the i love all that from the e to the n, evelyn. trying to woo her back. impression of her on the calf. >> that is a tattoo on the calf. >> tat of her face. >> she is a beautiful woman. can't imagine any woman getting head butted and sticking by. >> the head butt not portrayed

in the tattoo. >> don't think so. also, the women of "the talk" interesting season premiere coming september 10th. decided, sharon osbourne and company to go makeup free. sharon osbourne, and their guest, jamie lee curtis will go sans makeup. and decided the ultimate way to be real and authentic would be to go on without hair, makeup. tune in for the season premiere. should interesting to see them dressed down. >> you have seen me without my hair and makeup. you don't recognize me. >> you're fine. >> it's bad. >> we'll see. a couple of post baby bods to show you and talk about jessica simpson. signed the deal with weight watchers. she tells people, my body is not bouncing back. an everyday woman trying to feel good. apparently works out with a

trainer, four, five times a week. has not revealed her current weight. she will appear in weight watchers ads beginning next week. and she will reveal her post baby body on kate -- katie's new show on september 10th. >> when jessica simpson was in her fighting shape, "dukes of hazard" days, she was nothing to mess with. looked great. >> looked amazing. snooki meanwhile, six days after she had her baby, posting pictures on twitter. slowly getting my swag back, post pregnancy. tweeted another with the caption, mamacita. >> go, snooki. >> still has time to do hair and makeup. >> jersey girl! also here. justin bieber news. he tweeted a picture of himself. he now has a seventh tattoo, this one a crown on his right collarbone. a tribute to his idol michael jackson. discussing a few men us at go. seven tattoos. he loves the ink. bieber is all tatted up.

>> going to break the news when he sprouts chest hair. >> sure we'll cover it. hen he sprouts chest hair. >> i'm sure j-man will cover it. . and lunesta can help you get there, like it has for so many people before. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities while asleep, without remembering it the next day, have been reported. abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations or confusion. in depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicide, may occur. alcohol may increase these risks. allergic reactions, such as tongue or throat swelling, occur rarely and may be fatal. side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, dizziness and morning drowsiness. ask your doctor if lunesta is right for you. then find out how to get lunesta for as low as $15 at lunesta.com. there's a land of restful sleep.

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♪ baby do the humpty-hump >> go, rob. go, rob. >> let's get over that hump. yes, indeed. it is a cross between dancing, gymnastics and acrobatics, cirque du soleil. one of the most successful and unique shows to hit the stage. >> a group of performers trying to land a job with the troupe, and kabc discovered what it takes. >> reporter: samuel ortiz is one of many that auditioned for the upcoming cirque du soleil

creations. >> they must be able to evoke an emotion and put across their artistic feelings. >> some artists like simone have been doing this for years. others came to the circus in a round-about way. >> i wanted to take gymnastics when i was a little girl. and i had swimming lessons instead. so, i grew up and ran away with the circus pretty much. >> reporter: all agree that this is the opportunity of a lifetime. >> it's like the best you can do in your career. it's the top. so, could be amazing. >> reporter: in order to be at this particular audition they had to ask you to be here. for the upcoming auditions they're looking for new moves. >> these general auditions, we are not looking for anything, we are hoping to find something.

>> reporter: all who auditioned today hope that they have that special something to make them stand out. >> i threw out really hard tricks, took a bunch of risks. basically what my entire life has been. tried to go all out. >> reporter: abc news. >> wow. that is amazing. the training you have to go through to pull some of that stuff off. >> i heard you can lift your leg above your head. >> no, that would be you there. look at that. >> i was flexible in my days. >> how did you enjoy your days there on stage? >> well, i can't walk the same anymore. so -- how do we get out of that without getting into trouble? >> they know, they know upstairs. >> they want me to say how else do you think i got my husband. i just lost my job, what's that? >> more from abc next. >> i'm fired now. >> announcer: this is abc's "world news now," informing